Thermal stresses in the modern aircraft

Summary It is proposed for practical purposes to measure the severity of the bioclimate in extreme conditions, as encountered in aircraft, by the tolerance time. The author also suggests a more simple classification of the extreme bioclimates, as shown in Table 1. The probable kind of final fate of a human being in this bioclimate is used for its definition.The air friction causes the temperature of a modern fast airplane to rise in a degree that an equilibrium of temperature is no longer secured. The heat capacity of the cabin, of the clothes, and of the men therefore becomes important for avoiding too high temperatures.A new calculation of observed fast changes of temperature in man yields that the peripheral heat barrier of the body depends upon core temperature and not upon skin temperature. In hot environment the production of heat increases much more than has been supposed.As a consequence of recent experiments of the author about the thermal water loss from the skin the diffusion flow of the insensible perspiration can move in both directions, to and from the skin, according to the vapour pressure of the air; it represents simply the lowest value of osmotic diffusion. The diffusion ressstance of the skin is lowest when it is covered with water. Considerable amounts of water are flowing through the skin from water and solutions; amount and direction of these flows depend upon the concentration of the solutions. When the skin is sweating and exposed to the air the diffusion flow increases with sweating and can reach similar amounts. With a very damp air previously excreted sweat water can return back into the body by diffusion.

---

Zusammenfassung Für Zwecke der Praxis wird vorgeschlagen, die Härte des Bioklimas unter extremen Bedingungen, wie sie in der Fliegerei auftreten, nach der Toleranzzeit zu bemessen (Fig. 1). Ferner wird angeregt, statt der verwirrenden Fülle extremer Bioklimate eine Einteilung wie in Tabelle 1 zu benützen. Dabei wird die wahrscheinliche Art des Endschicksals eines Menschen in diesem Bioklima für dessen Definition benutzt.Das moderne Schnellflugzeug wird durch Reibung so stark aufgeheizt, daß Temperaturgleichgewicht nicht mehr erreicht wird. Wärmekapazität von Flugzeugzelle, Kleidung und Mensch werden dadurch zu wichtigen Hilfsmitteln zur Vermeidung zu hoher Temperaturen.Eine Neuberechnung beobachteter schneller Temperaturgänge im Menschen ergibt, daß der periphere Wärmewiderstand des Körpers von der Innentemperatur und nicht von der Hauttemperatur abhängt. In heißer Umgebung steigt die Wärmebildung viel mehr an als bisher angenommen.Nach neuen Versuchen des Verf. über den thermischen Hautwasserverlust kann der Diffusionsstrom der insensiblen Perspiration, je nach dem äußeren Dampfdruck, von der Haut weg oder zu ihr hin gerichtet sein; er stellt nur den untersten Wert der osmotischen Diffusion dar. Der geringste Diffusionswiderstand der Haut findet sich bei Wasserbedeckung. Aus Wasser oder Lösungen fließen erhebliche Wassermassen durch die Haut; Größe und Richtung dieser Ströme richten sich nach der Konzentration der Lösungen. Bei schwitzender, der Luft ausgesetzter Haut nimmt der Diffusionsstrom mit dem Schwitzen zu und kann eine ähnliche Größe erreichen. Bei sehr feuchter Luft kann bereits ausgetretenes Schweißwasser wieder zurückdiffundieren.

---

Résumé L'auteur propose, à des fins pratiques, d'évaluer la rigueur d'un bioclimat sous des conditions extrêmes comme on les rencontre dans l'aviation, par le temps de tolérance (fig.1). Il suggère en un tableau une subdivision plus simple des bioclimats extrêmes; pour cela il définit ce climat par le sort final probable de l'organisme humain qui s'y trouve exposé.La chaleur de frottement des avions modernes est telle que l'équilibre de température n'est plus atteint. La capacité calorifique de la cabine d'avion, des vêtements et de l'homme deviennent par conséquent des moyens importants d'éviter des températures trop hautes.Un nouveau calcul de fortes variations de température observées dans l'organisme humain montre que la résistence calorifique du corps dépend de sa température interne et non de celle de la peau. La formation de chaleur augmente par forte chaleur extérieure beaucoup plus qu'on ne l'admettait jusqu'ici.D'après de nouvelles recherches de l'auteur sur la perte calorifique en eau de la peau, le courant de diffusion de la perspiration insensible peut être dirigé vers l'extérieur ou vers l'intérieur, selon la pression de vapeur de l'air; il ne représente que la valeur la plus basse de la diffusion osmotique. La plus petite résistance de la peau à la diffusion s'observe lorsque celle-ci est couverte d'eau. Dans l'eau ou dans une solution, des quantités notables d'eau traversent la peau; la direction et l'importance de ces courants dépendent de la concentration des solutions. Lorsque la peau exposée à l'air transpire, le courant de diffusion augmente avec la transpiration et peut atteindre une grandeur semblable. Dans de l'air très humide, l'eau de transpiration expulsée peut rediffuser vers l'intérieur.

---

---

With 3 Figures.

---

Lecture given to the Symposium on Frontiers of man controlled flight. Los Angeles, Cal., April 1953. With the permission of the Institute of Transportation and Traffic Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles.     

Die Einordnung der Weichseleiszeit in die Strahlungskurve Ton Milankowitsch

Zusammenfassung Bändertone, Osbuckel und Toteiskragen der Diluviallandschaft Norddeutschlands werden auf ihre Brauchbarkeit als Geochronometer untersucht. Es zeigt sich stets, daß nur überraschend kleine Zahlenwerte festzustellen sind. Ein Versuch, die Gesamtdauer der Weichseleiszeit zu errechnen, scheint aussichtsreich, obwohl er nicht exakt durchführbar ist. Es wird dadurch zumindestens bewiesen, daß in der Strahlungskurve vonMilankowitsch lediglich die Klimazacke vor 22 300 Jahren mit der gesamten Weichseleiszeit identifiziert werden könnte.     

William F. Petersen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Late Holocene sea-surface temperature and precipitation variability in northern Patagonia, Chile (Jacaf Fjord, 44°S)

A high-resolution multi-proxy study including the elemental and isotopic composition of bulk organic matter, land plant-derived biomarkers, and alkenone-based sea-surface temperature (SST) from a marine sedimentary record obtained from the Jacaf Fjord in northern Chilean Patagonia (44°20′S) provided a detailed reconstruction of continental runoff, precipitation, and summer SST spanning the last 1750 yr. We observed two different regimes of climate variability in our record: a relatively dry/warm period before 900 cal yr BP (lower runoff and average SST 1°C warmer than present day) and a wet/cold period after 750 cal yr BP (higher runoff and average SST 1°C colder than present day). Relatively colder SSTs were found during 750–600 and 450–250 cal yr BP, where the latter period roughly corresponds to the interval defined for the Little Ice Age (LIA). Similar climatic swings have been observed previously in continental and marine archives of the last two millennia from central and southern Chile, suggesting a strong latitudinal sensitivity to changes in the Southern Westerly Winds, the main source of precipitation in southern Chile, and validating the regional nature of the LIA. Our results reveal the importance of the Chilean fjord system for recording climate changes of regional and global significance.     

Terrigenous plant wax inputs to the Arabian Sea: Implications for the reconstruction of winds associated with the Indian Monsoon

We have determined the accumulation rates and carbon isotopic compositions (δ¹³C) of long-chain (C₂₄-C₃₂) terrigenous plant wax fatty acids in 19 surface sediment samples geographically distributed throughout the Arabian Sea in order to assess the relationship between plant wax inputs and the surrounding monsoon wind systems. Both the accumulation rate data and the δ¹³C data show that there are three primary eolian sources of plant waxes to the Arabian Sea: Africa, Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula. These sources correspond to the three major wind systems in this region: the summer (Southwest) monsoon, the winter (Northeast) monsoon, and the summer northwesterlies that blow over the Arabian Peninsula. In addition, plant waxes are fluvially supplied to the Gulf of Oman and the Eastern African margin by nearby rivers. Plant wax δ¹³C values reflect the vegetation types of the continental source regions. Greater than 75% of the waxes from Africa and Asia are derived from C₄ plants. Waxes delivered by northwesterly winds reflect a greater influence (25-40%) of C₃ vegetation, likely derived from the Mesopotamian region. These data agree well with previously published studies of eolian dust deposition, particularly of dolomite derived from the Arabian Peninsula and the Mesopotamian region, in surface sediments of the Arabian Sea. The west-to-east gradient of plant wax δ¹³C and dolomite accumulation rates are separately useful indicators of the relationship between the northwesterly winds and the winds of the Southwest monsoon. Combined, however, these two proxies could provide a powerful tool for the reconstruction of both southwest monsoon strength as well as Mesopotamian aridity.     

The role of tourism in land utilization conflicts on the Spanish Mediterranean coast

Spain's Mediterranean coastline is strongly influenced by conflicts between different land utilization. Space of diverse qualities (sunshine, proximity to the sea, ground-water, modes of transport, quality of soil) represents a limited resource that can either be wasted by specific preferences of be preserved and used in public interest.The activity that uses up most land is national and international hard tourism, which has influenced the appearance of the coastline since the nineteensixties. Unplanned building of holiday residences and of settlements (urbanizaciones) as well as the high concentration of hotels along the beach have resulted in excessive use with nearly irreparable desasters.Land prices rose dramatically in the sixties and in the first half of the seventies. In the meantime, however, the bad state of the nation's economy has put the lid on it. Pollution and high traffic density, provoked among others by tourism, eventually boomerang against tourism itself.Agricultural areas of high yields in the huertas tend to disappear. Tenants and labourers leave and seek for jobs in construction or services. In a few cases only does tourism lead to a more intensive tillage. It is not only the unlimited desires of a leisure-oriented society that causes such destructive development, but also, speculation among land owners and contractors in order to achieve the highest profit possible as well as the lack of planning and of steadfastness within public administration.     

Climate Change driven evolution of hazards to Europe’s transport infrastructure throughout the twenty-first century

Air circulation due to the urban heat island (UHI) effect can influence the dispersion of air pollutants in a metropolis. This study focusses on the influence of the UHI effect on particulate matter (PM; including PM_2.5 and PM_2.5–10) between May and September 2010–2012 in the Taipei basin. Meteorological and PM data were obtained from the sites, owned by the governmental authorities. The analysis was carried out using t test, relative indices (RIs), Pearson product–moment correlation and stepwise regression. The results show that the RI values for PM were the highest at moderate UHI intensity (MUI; 2 °C ≤ UHI < 4 °C) rather than at strong UHI intensity (SUI; 4 °C ≤ UHI) during the peak time for anthropogenic emissions (20:00 LST). Neither the accumulation of PM nor the surface convergence occurred in the hot centre, as shown by the case study. At MUI, more than 89 % of the synoptic weather patterns showed that the weather was clear and hot or that the atmosphere was stable. The variation in PM was associated with horizontal and vertical air dispersion. Poor horizontal air dispersion, with subsidence, caused an increase in PM at MUI. However, the updraft motion diluted the PM at SUI. The stepwise regression models show that the cloud index and surface air pressure determined the variation in PM_2.5–10, while cloud index, wind speed and mixing height influenced the variation in PM_2.5. In conclusion, a direct relationship between UHI effect and PM was not obvious.     

The spatial distribution of tornadoes and high wind impacts associated with inland-moving tropical cyclones in the southeastern United States

The southeastern United States is routinely hit by tropical cyclones (TC). As TC track inland and dissipate their inland impacts can be substantial. This study examined the spatial patterns of societal impacts associated with tornadoes and high winds with 31 inland-moving TC that made landfall from 1985 to 2008. Hourly weather information was collected from all available first-order weather stations affected by each storm, as well as tropical cyclone preliminary reports issued from the National Hurricane Center. Societal impacts were identified through selected newspapers across the region and the National Climatic Data Center’s Storm Data. Geographic Information System (GIS) software was employed to make geometric measurements of the distance and direction of the impacts relative to storm center. From these measurements, the spatial distribution of the societal and meteorological impacts was plotted relative to the track (e.g., left vs. right) and location (forward vs. rear sector) of the cyclone center. Various tropical cyclone attributes, including size, strength, and forward speed of movement were then related to the occurrence of different impacts and their location relative to the cyclone track. The majority of tropical cyclone tornado and high wind impacts occur in the right-forward sector of the tropical cyclone. However, many TC produce impacts that occur in other sectors far from the center of circulation. These abnormalities are associated in many cases with interactions between the tropical cyclone circulation, topography, peripheral dry air, and extratropical synoptic weather features.